PRESS RELEASE
Listers
21st
December 2011
RE: CCK EXTENDS
DEADLINE FOR SWITCH OFF OF COUNTERFEIT HANDSETS
The deadline for mobile
operators to switch off subscribers using counterfeit phones in the country was
today extended for a four-month period, effectively giving the affected
subscribers reprieve to replace their handsets before they are disconnected.
ICT sector regulator,
the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), today announced the extension of
the disconnection deadline from the end of this month to April 30 next
year.
Acting CCK
Director-General Mr. Francis Wangusi said the extension was necessitated by the
need to first undertake a consumer awareness campaign and also for the industry
to establish a mechanism through which consumers could confirm the status of
their mobile devices.
The extension will also
allow mobile operators to undertake the requisite technical preparations in
readiness for disconnecting counterfeit handsets.
The extension will
provide the affected mobile subscribers with more time to replace their mobile
handsets in view of the prevailing hard economic realities in the country.
Mr. Wangusi said the
industry was exploring the possibility of putting in place a system through
which subscribers would be able to interrogate a central database via SMS to
verify whether their devices are genuine or not.
Regulatory concern over
counterfeit handsets stems from the fact that counterfeit devices deny
manufacturers of revenue through counterfeit production of their products.
In addition, use of
counterfeit handsets may expose consumers to safety and health risks as the
phones may not meet the approved radiation standards. Further, counterfeit
devices typically enter markets via unofficial channels thus denying the
government of revenue.
According to industry
statistics, close to 2.4 million mobile phones in the market are counterfeit,
representing 9.39 % of the active mobile devices in the country.
The ongoing initiative
to rid Kenya of counterfeit mobile phones is driven by CCK in conjunction with industry
players, handset manufacturers, and other relevant government agencies
including KeBS, Office of the President, Anti-Counterfeit Agency, and the Kenya
Revenue Authority.
Issued by:
Francis
W. Wangusi
Ag. Director General